Borderline News 24

By Ikhili Ebalu,  A Socio Political Group, The  Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwide, has called  on the National and Edo State leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)  to urgently  call Barr. Olayiwola Afolabi to order before he destroy the respect and trust the people have for the profession.  The President, Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwide, Elder Comrade Curtis Eghosa Ugbo     made the call in Benin City while speaking with journalists    .      In an interview with newsmen in Benin, Elder Ugbo said he hired the services of  Barr. Olayiwole Afolabi to help prosecutes Chief Atseleghe and 7 Others for alleged conspiracy, kidnapping and murder  of Sunny Etchie, Okheigele of Kolokolo Community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State Accordi g to Elder Ugbo  "Last week, the O.C. Legal at the AIG office called to inform me that there is a petition against me. When l asked wh...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has condemned in strong terms the glaring marginalization of Christians in appointments into federal government offices by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government. According to the  PFN National president,    Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude  through  a statement in Benin City, stated that the government actions could further negativity affect the unity of the country.  He noted that Nigeria has never been as divided the way it is now under the present administration. Dr. Omobude, stated that the PFN was most saddened with the on-going appointment exercise in the judiciary where only adherents of a particular religion were favoured for appointment as  justice of Court of Appeal  with disregard for merit and equity. The PFN leader expressed displeasure that over the years, some Nigerian politicians and top government functionaries have hijacked religion as a way to further...

By DADA AYOKHAI A Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Arc. Nnimmo Bassey and a former staff of ERA/FoEN Barr. Chima Williams have been dragged before the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos for contempt of court.   A Federal High Court  had   on the  7th October 2020   restrained the duo from parading themselves as the Board Chairman and acting Executive Director of ERA/FoEN respectively. The incumbent Executive Director of the organization, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo and three others had in a suit no: FHC/L/CS/ 1421/2020 sued Messrs Bassey over conflict of interest and abuse of office. Barr. Mike Karikpo, Director of Programmes of ERA/FoEN who disclosed this in a statement to newsmen stated that Messrs Bassey and Williams have severally violated the court order with reckless abandon and utter disregard to the rule of law, hence the decision to slam them with con...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Office on Tuesday February 23, 2021, arraigned Gajah Omayulele Lovely before Justice G. O. Imadegbelo of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City Lovely was arraigned on a two count charge of conspiracy to pervert justice and failure to produce a suspect (Richman Pere) for whom he stood as surety. One of the counts reads: "that you Gajah Omayulele Lovely on or about the 9th January,  2021 whilst  standing as surety to a suspect, one Richman Pere (at large) aided and abated his escape by refusing to produce him for arraignment before the  Federal High Court, Benin... and failing to cooperate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in bringing him to custody and thereby committed an offence". Attempt by the defence counsel, Marta Imafu to move her application for bail was opposed by the prosecution counsel. Justice Imadegbelo ordered that the defendant be remanded at ...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), has asked Governor Godwin Obaseki to go ahead with his threat to probe the multi-billion naira Benin stormwater project, commenced by the  Comrade Adams Oshiomhole administration but should  also endeavor to make the findings public. APC in a statement  by the Publicity Secretary, Chris Azebamwan, urged the governor to be quick with the probe and publish the same so that the public would know the truth about the whole matter. Governor Obaseki  had after inspection of textile Mills road of the project vowed to probe the N30 billion project initiated by his erstwhile godfather, Oshiomhole, which he described as a project conceived to defraud the state. According to the statement, APC said, “The governor while inspecting the Textile Mill Road catchment of the project, in Benin City, this week said the stormwater project was designed not to work for the benefit of Edo people, addin...

By DADA  AYOKHAI  The cold war which exists between Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki and his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, reared its ugly head once again as the former hit so hard on the poor quality of work done on the Benin water storm project.  A visibly angry Gov Obaseki queried the competence of the current Minister of State on Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, insisting the minister lacks the supervisory skills required to handle  turn key projects,  having failed in similar assignments at the state level.  Prince Agba, now a minister of state, was the Edo State Commissioner of Environment during the administration of Comrade Oshiomole supervised the  Benin city water storm project.   Governor Obaseki did not spare the former commissioner for his poor supervisory role, stating the project execution was desinged to fail  from onset  adding that the additional problems created is what his ...

By DADA  AYOKHAI The Edo North Leaders Forum, EDLF, an umbrella body of PDP leaders across the six local government areas which constitute Edo North senatorial district, may have decidedly taken a cue from the state leadership of the party by moving to fuse all existing structures  in the party into an indivisible unit The move is sequel to the resolutions reached at an expanded meeting of the leaders Forum in Fugar, Etsako Central.  A sub committee on harmonisation headed by Sen Yisa Braimoh had earlier submitted a report in which it canvassed for the fusing of the various structures  in the party in order to douse tension and create harmony in the party . The Sen Yisa Braimoh sub committee comprised party leaders drawn across old PDP members and those who  defected from the APC to join the PDP before the September 19, 2020, Edo governorship election.  Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, chairman of the Edo North Elders Council, found the sub committee's re...

By DADA AYOkHAI The former senator representing Edo North- Senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Domingo obende  has  revalidates his Membership of APC   at IGARRA,  Akoko Edo local government Area.  The Akoko Edo born senator is presently the  Chairman of the party   Membership Revalidation and Registration Exercise in Niger state. Senator  OBENDE who  arrived at  his WARD 2 , UNIT 7, EDEKI HOUSE  Registration point was accompanied  by the Secretary, Edo State APC MEMBERSHIP REVALIDATION and REGISTRATION  Committee, Gen. Idris Bello (rtd). Ater  the Exercise, the registration officials and  Gen. Bello formally handed over the Membership Registration copy to Dr  Obende to the admiration of party members present.  It will be recalled that  the Edo state chapter of  APC led by Dr David Imuse  petitioned the APC National Caretaker Committee, led by Malla...

By DADA AYOkHAI The recently inaugurated Edo North PDP Elders Council now Christened Edo North  Leaders forum, ENLF, held a maiden  expanded  meeting with a provision of a vote of confidence on the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.  The Expanded meeting  of the forum which  was held at the country home of its chairman, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, in fugar, Etsako central local government had  over 100 members across the six LGAs in attendance.   Among the top Edo North PDP leaders at the meeting were Sen Yisa Braimoh, Hon Henry Duke Tenebe, Hon Paschal Ugbomeh, Hon Johnson Abolagba, Chief Tom Uloko, Mrs Evelyn Igbafe, Hon Shegun Saiki , Chief Okomayin , HAJIA Jumai Mohammed  , Hon Andrew Momodu and a host of others.  PDP leaders from the six local government areas which constitute the senatorial district were adequately represented.  In his opening remarks the chairman of the forum,  Chief Oghia...

By DADA AYOkHAI The family of late Dr Simon Imhukemhe have continued to receive a stream of  condolence visitors made up of prominent Edo State citizens on the death of their patriarch. Edo State deputy governor,Rt  Hon Philip Shaibu, was the latest to visit the Benin GRA residence of the Imhuekemhe's to pay condolences on behalf of himself and the  state government.  Accompanied by his wife, comrade Maryann Philip- Shaibu, along with some prominent Edo State PDP leaders, including Hon Duke Henry Tenebe, Pastor Kenneth Asekomhe, Hon Jerry Gowon and Hon Andrew Momodu, the deputy governor described the late technocrat as a priceless jewel who served the state to the best of his abilities.  Former Edo State deputy governor  and the chairman of  Edo North PDP Elders council , Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, also made out time in his tight schedule to pay a condolence visit to the bereaved family.  Chief Oghiadomhe prayed for God to grant the family...

By DADA AYOkHAI  A meeting of Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) members and  the break away All Progressives Congress, (APC) factional counterpart, led by Barr. Anselm Ojezua recently took place  in Benin City. The closed door meeting held at the state secretariat of the party in Benin and the first since the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki at the September 19, 2020, Edo governorship election, attracted top brass of the party in the state.  According to Chris  Nehikhare, state publicity secretary of PDP, the meeting was tagged "Consolidated" because it is the first time the erstwhile state working committee of the APC that resigned its membership of APC to join PDP was formally meeting with the PDP state working committee. " Recall the APC state working committee faction broke ranks and fused into the PDP in the heat of the internal squabbles which engulfed and significantly weakened the capacity of the APC in the governorship election las...

     ----- Wajeed Obomeghie History, is the colourful routine of human endeavours which we do vigorously with our pen to keep humanity informed about the past we are all coming from. It was therefore not surprising that the late Dr. ROBSON Momoh, The EMOABINO of Auchi Kingdom played  his part well as a protagonist in the Afenmai epicentres of politics, hurdle, tension unleashed by the interparty struggles for offices, the anxiety over the primary and the inexplicable eligibility questions hanging on its standard bearer could not be quantified. He towered above others like a colosus not only in his pen's might, but also in character, patriotism and political struggles. The bifocal bibliophile of our time, the intellectual and gallant educationist  weathered the storms severally to fulfill his destiny. Although, he had seen it all roughed as a poor bairn, necessity  made it  compelling for him to embark on a mission of his life goal. Hence, h...

By DADA AYOKHAI The battle of supremacy between Senator Domingo Obende, on one hand and the state chapter of the APC, on the other hand, has taken a new dimension, as the National Caretaker Committee of the party seems to have  pitched tent with the  senator. In a move considered to be a tacit support for the Akoko_ Edo former Edo north  senator, the National Caretaker Committee of the party ignored all  the petitions filed against the embattled senator.  Trouble started when the state chapter of the APC led by Dr David Imuse  petitioned the APC National Caretaker Committee, led by Mallam Mala Bunu, claiming Sen Obende's nomination as chairman of the party's registration and revalidation committee in Niger  State was illegal, stressing the embattled senator was already serving a  suspension as a result of anti party activities.  Whilst the heat of this petition was generating controversy, a similar petition was fired by the Edo No...

By DADA AYOKHAI An Edo born  nollywood actress, Sophia Ekoh,has debunked  the much talked about sex for role that is said to be prevalent in Nollywood as  nothing but "a false report peddled around by a few who do not have what it takes to prove themselves in the movie industry. "Whenever I hear that anything of such is happening in Nollywood I am confused because no one has ever approached me with such indecent proposal since I made my first appearance in the industry about five years ago," Sophia intoned. The Ubiaja in Esanland , Edo State born Sophia confessed that for the number of years she has been in the industry she has never experienced anything immoral while auditioning for any role. Sophia is confident that Nollywood can stand firm on its own when compared to Bollywood and Hollywood. "Nollywood is Nigeria's export to the movie world. Nollywood is quite unique. I see no need to start making comparison. From all indications it is only on Nol...

By DADA AYOKHAI  In spite of the few hiccups that had characterised the nationwide APC registration and revalidation exercise, it continues to gather steam as more and more big wigs of the party are coming out to revalidate their membership of the party. The latest APC big wig to revalidate his membership of the party is Engr Saliu Ahmed, a leading Edo North APC chieftain.  The amiable and popular Edo North APC chieftain successfully revalidated his membership of the party on  at Unit 6, Ward 1, Auchi, Etsako west local government  in the full glare of his supporters and admirers.  On his arrival at the venue of the exercise, he was swarmed by APC faithfuls who had also gathered for the membership revalidation and registration exercise.  Not wanting to disrupt the orderly queue formed by the crowd of party enthusiasts at the venue, Engr Ahmed joined the queue and patiently waited for his turn, in strict adherence to COVID- 19 protocols.  At...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The controversy surrounding the inauguration of Edo north PDP Elders council is yet to douse down as the PDP chairmen in owan west and east chief Leslie Ebosojie and Aigbodion oko  David have described the purported press statement attributed to the party's local government chairman in Akoko Edo as a "ruse and stage managed".  However, in a swift reaction, the two PDP local government chairmen, and four co chairmen disowned Mr Ogunibi and said he was acting alone.  In particular, the Owan East and Owan West local government chairmen disputed his claims, stating there was no record of any meeting or consultation where a collective decision was taken to call for the disbandment of the Elders Council. They noted, "What the PDP chairman  of Akoko Edo did is fraudulent and condemnable. Nobody appointed him as a spokesman, but he mischievously chose to ambush and blackmail the rest of us. His actions, as far as we are concerned, is stage m...

By DADA AYOKHAI The ongoing nationwide All Progressives Congress, (APC) membership registration and revalidation exercise has significantly boosted the local economy of hawkers, food sellers and other artisans across the state.   Itinerant photographers whose source of income suffered a major setback as a result of the shutdown of social events during the COVID - 19 lockdown can, once again, become the greatest beneficiaries of the exercise.    Photographers and others who provide ancillary services are reaping bountiful dividends from the exercise. Hordes of photographers have invaded the various APC registration centres to make brisk business, at a time android phones have impacted negatively on their source of income.  A basic requirement of the APC registration exercise is the one which requires registrants to attach two passport photographs on the registration form.  The presence of hundreds of the party registrants who storm the registrati...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The number of universities in Edo State recently increased by one with the federal government's granting of approval for the take off of Mudiamen University, Irrua, in Esanland of the state. The coming of Mudiamen University in Irrua brings to two the number of private universities in Edo Central district of the state known in the local parlance as Esan. The pioneer university in the district , Adegboyega University in Ogwa is owned by a religious body, Seventh Day Adventist Church.  The new university is said to be  the uncommon  effort of Mr Sunny Eromosele Eboh who  conceived the idea of putting on  ground an educational avalanche to be known as Mudiamen University, that would be technologically oriented in philosophy. The university will focus on  WELDING AND FABRICATION  On Wednesday, 17th April, (what year naa?) the Planning and Implementation Committee of the proposed Mudiamen University of Welding and Fabricati...

By DADA AYOKHAI The desire of the late kinsmen of  Prince Dennis Abuda,   as expressed through their umbrella body, Fugar Progressive Union, FPU, to have a worthy edifice named after him has come to fruition.  The chairman of Etsako Central local government, Hon John Akhigbe, heeded to the demands of the FPU by  renaming the council's multipurpose hall and the road that leads to his Fugar residence after the deceased.  Hon Akhigbe made the disclosure at the solemn candle light vigil held at the Fugar garage, in honour of late Prince Abuda.  Describing the US based late Prince Abuda as a philanthropist and key contributor to the growth of Etsako Central, Hon Akhigbe noted the state in general and Etsako in particular would sorely miss the midas touch, the zeal and the passion which the late Prince Abuda often brought to bear in his various endeavours, adding he would also  be remembered for his front line role in unifying the diverse gr...

By DADA  AYokhai Hon momoh Abubakar  has joined the league of APC leaders across the country who have  revalidated their  membership of the party  in accordance with the party's directives.  The former Reps member who is also the leader of the party in his country home, Imiegba, Etsako East local government area of Edo State also formally flagged off the registration exercise in the ward. Hon Momoh who arrived at his  unit of the ward  along with his wife who also revalidate her membership of the party, were received by party faithful amidst enthutiasm . Speaking after performing the exercise, Hon  Momoh  told the party faithful to endeavour to perform the exercise as directed by the party and also commended the effort of the party  in conducting  the exercise.   The party registration  exercise that is expected to last for two weeks, withnessed turn out of party faithful across all the units visited.

By DADA AYOKHAI The Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party from Edo North extraction recently inaugurated a body known as Edo North Elders Council at a ceremony which took place in Benin City, Edo State. The August body  comprising leaders  of the party across the six local governments areas of EDO north has His Excellency, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, a-two-term deputy governor of Edo State  and Chief of Staff to former president GoodLuck Jonathan as the interim chairman. According to Chief Oghiadomhe in his inaugural address, said the council will not conflict with any organs of the party and also that the Elders Council  has  been  in existence  from 1998 when the party was formed. " As you are all aware , the party has always needed the cooperation and good counsel of elders in recent times as we do today . With the almagamation of the APC and PDP in the state recently, there is a dire need for leaders and elders to work harmoniously togethe...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) local government chairmen across  Edo North Senatorial District of the state, on Monday, endorsed  the newly inagurated Edo North PDP's Elders Council and the  harmonization of party's structures and its executives.  This was contained in a communique  issued and signed by Chief Leslie Ebosojie and   Aigbodion Oko David as chairman of Owan West and East while  Sir Sunday Adogah, Hajia Rabiat Ezolomeh, Hon Zekeri Ozizi,  and Pharm Ashofo Henry  signed as co chairmen of  Etsako East, Central  West and Akoko Edo  local government areas respectively.  The chairmen similarly  disassociated themselves from an earlier press statement by the PDP chairman, Akoko Edo LGA, Mr   Kayode Ogunibi where he condemned the inaguration of the Elders Council claiming to be speaking on behalf of the co-chairmen.   According to the chairmen, they were ...

 By DADA AYOKHAI  Edo state Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki said he is hopeful of  building new magistrate   courts in Auchi and  Ekpoma in Edo north and central respectively of the state  to replaced the existing ones which  he described as eyes sour. Governor  Obaseki made this disclosure  during the handing over the keys of the newly constructed High Court Complex to the Chief Judge of Edo State, Honourable Justice Esther Edigin. According to Governor obaseki who expressed sadness over  the decayed  building  presently serving   as magistrate  courts  in those areas.    "We are hoping to build new courts in Auchi and Ekpoma. I felt sad during my electioneering after visiting 192 wards across the state and seeing what is called magistrate courts in some communities. They are not befitting of such names,”  Obaseki also noted that, “I am here to undertake a simple handover ceremon...

By DADA AYOKHAI  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has unconvered a cannabis village in Ukpuje,  Owan West local government area of Edo state Buba Wakawa, NDLEA commander in Edo, disclosed this on Sunday in Benin, the state capital. He said the command arrested seven drug barons operating four large warehouses in Ukpuje forest in Owan West. Wakawa said the four warehouses had a total of 16, 344 bags of cannabis and weeds, weighing 233, 778kg, which were seized in addition to two pump action and one double barrel guns. The commander said the estimated street value of the seized illicit drug is put at over N1.4billion. He said seven suspects were arrested and taken into NDLEA custody. He gave their names as; Emmanuel Oki, 62, who is the chairman of the vigilante group in Ukpuje; Odi Sabato, 42, and Bright Inemi Edegbe, 53. Others are Gowon Ehimigbai, 53; Enodi Ode, 37; Ayo Oni, 30 and Akhime Benjamin, 43. According to Wakawa, the arrest is the larg...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The gruesome murder of Prince Dennis Eloniyo Abuda by some unknown abductors has drawn the ire of his Fugar kinsmen who have demanded for the immortalization of his name by relevant authorities in the state.  They described the late Prince Dennis Abuda as an "illustrious son" of Fugar, and also called on President Buhari to direct the Inspector General of Police to set up a crack team to unravel the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of Prince Abuda as well as bring the perpetrators to book.  Late Prince Abuda's kinsmen, under their umbrella body, Fugar Progressive Union, FPU, condemned his gruesome manner life was snuffed out of the victim, adding those behind the "gruesome act" must not go unpunished.  In a press statement, signed by FPU's National Publicity Secretary, Mr Solomon Obomighie, the Union   said the death of Prince Abuda must not go unresolved like others before it, saying it is time to put a final nail ...

By DADA AYOKHAI Kinsmen of the late Prince Tony Momoh would be denied the opportunity of  paying  him their last respect  because  his religion,  Grail moment, only permits  the  burying of their members at  a destignated  place especially at their temple in Lagos depending on the rank of members.  The corpse of the late Auchi prince is to be laid to eternal rest at the Grail land in Iju hills, Ogun State.  With this, Prince Momoh, a staunch Buhari loyalist, will not be buried among his kinsmen in Auchi, in line with the age long cultural practise of his people which requires corpses to be brought home for burial.  Instead, Prince Momoh's remains will be buried at the Grail temple in Iju hills, Ogun State, in the presence of his fellow cross bearers and Grail adherents.  Whatever speculations that may have swirled around the final resting place of the former minister was laid to rest by a press stat...

By DADA AYOKHAI  The leadership of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Friday  suspended its 19-day-old indefinite strike. The statement urged all public primary school-Heads and teachers in the state to resume classes  on Monday 8th, February, 2021. Similarly,  the state government was urged  to utilize the opportunity of the suspension to urgently meet  the 10-point demands of the union so as to restore hope and confidence between government and the union. According to the   statement   signed by the State chairman of the Union, Pius Okhueleigbe, Assistant Secretary General, Moni Mike and three others said the suspension of the indefinite strike embarked on January 18, 2021 was made possible by the national leadership of the union. It advised that any form of victimization against union leaders  and members should be promptly reported to the union for necessary action. While appreciating the...

By DADA AYOKHAI  More trouble appears to be brewing in the Edo State camp of the PDP, following the  inauguration of an Edo North Elders Council, led by Chief Mike Oghiadomhe.  Edo State PDP chairman, Chief Tony Aziegbemin, faulted the creation of the body, describing it  as   strange and unknown to the party constitution.   The press  statement is widely regarded as the official position of Edo State PDP on the Council headed by former two term deputy governor of the state, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe.  Some prominent PDP members in the state have kicked against the Council, saying it is meant to undermine the other organs  of the party.   Chief Aziegbemin, in the statement, said the formation of the body contravenes the constitution of the party.  He said, " It has become imperative to state that the PDP constitution is the supreme document which stipulates the various organs of the party, its workings, functi...

By DADA AYOKHAI More and more clarifications as to the form and shape of the burial rites to be accorded the late Prince Tony Momoh is coming to the surface. News of the shocking demise of the late journalist, lawyer and politician, who also served as the minister of information during the Ibrahim Babangida military regime, swept through the ancient kingdom of Auchi penultimate week, like a wild harmattan fire.  Contrary to the widely held that late Prince Momoh, a prince of the Auchi royal family, was born into a muslim family Islam but was enamoured by the Grail message he heard late Adeyemi Lawson and became a cross bearer, a name attached to devotees of Grail.  According to an unofficial palace source, muslim burial rites are reserved privileges for Muslims and in the case of late Prince Momoh, his religious rights as a Grail devotee will be respected, even in death.  The late Prince Momoh was born into the Momoh royal family of Auchi.   His musl...

 By DADA AYOKHAI Edo state Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki said he is hopeful of  building new magistrate   courts in Auchi and  Ekpoma in Edo north and central respectively of the state  to replaced the existing ones which  he described as eyes sour. Governor  Obaseki made this disclosure  during the handing over the keys of the newly constructed High Court Complex to the Chief Judge of Edo State, Honourable Justice Esther Edigin. According to Governor obaseki who expressed sadness over  the decayed  building  presently serving   as magistrate  courts  in those areas.    "We are hoping to build new courts in Auchi and Ekpoma. I felt sad during my electioneering after visiting 192 wards across the state and seeing what is called magistrate courts in some communities. They are not befitting of such names,”  Obaseki also noted that, “I am here to undertake a simple handover ceremony for ...

By DADA AYOKHAI  What can be regarded as a think Tank made  up of leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in  Edo North senatorial district of Edo state, whose functions will be mostly advisory  has been inaugurated in Benin City the Edo State capital.  The leaders of leaders body interim chairmanship position was bestowed on Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, former Edo state deputy governor, and Chief of Staff to former president Good luck Johnathan,  While inaugurating the 30-man advisory Committee with Barrister Johnson Abolagba as secretary, Chief   Oghiadomhe charged the members to serve selflessly in the interest of the party. He added that their duty was purely advisory and formulation of ideas that will not in any way be in conflict with any organs of the party.  According to Oghiadomhe, an elder’s council is not a novelty in the PDP.  Rather, it has always been part of the party structure since its inception. The inauguration a...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State judiciary has  undergone some radical transformations in recent times with more  female judges at the bench . Practising lawyers, litigants, journalists and other category of people which has business to do with the High courts  in the state  may face the new challenge   of having to ascertaining the proper way and protocols to address the female members of the bench.  With this new realities, lawyers who appear before the female judges may have to discard the old cliché of His Lordship so as to not incur the wrath of the female judges.  The recent increase in the number of female judges in the state high court created a serious gender differentials, with the number of female judges standing at 19 and 12 males, out of the 31 judges on the bench as at the last count.  Luckily and concidentally, the state chief judge is also a female. It will be recalled the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, swore in a...

By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo state chapter of Nigeria union of Teachers, NUT, said they are not aware of any restraining order  from the  industrial court  sitting in Benin  stopping them  from continuing with the ongoing industrial strike. According to Moni Mike Modesty Itua, assistant secretary general of the union   said, the body was yet to be served any court order. " as far as the union is concern the indefinite strike action is still in force." The Edo  state government has draged the NUT to the Industrial Court sitting in Benin, seeking the court's order restraining the teachers union from directing teachers to embark on strike action. The Edo State Government and the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) are the applicants in the case with Suit No. NICN/BEN/ 04/2021 , while the defendants in the suit are Chairman, NUT, Edo State, Pius O. Okhuleliegbe; Assistant Secretary General, NUT, Edo State, Moni Mike Modesty It...